Sport training ball

ABSTRACT

A sport training ball for use underwater includes a resilient spherical body. An internal chamber is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water. A buoyancy reduction device is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water.

RELATED CASE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/631,942, filed on 17 Jan. 2012, by MarShaan Connell Johnson, entitled “Pool Training Basketball”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to balls and, more particularly, to balls used for training purposes.

BACKGROUND

As with any other professional, athletes often employ rigorous training procedures in order to stay in shape and maintain top performance. Often times, training may occur inside of swimming pools, as the resistance provided by the water enhances the level of exercise experienced by the athlete. For example, basketball players often train within swimming pools, where they may practice their moves within a swimming pool so that the drag created by the water provides a higher level of workout to their muscles. Additionally, such procedures may be used for rehabilitative therapy for basketball players.

Often times, athletes employ various objects during their training. For example, basketball players train with basketballs. Unfortunately, the use of a basketball is not conducive to training within a swimming pool, as the buoyancy of the basketball prohibits e.g., the dribbling of the same underwater.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In one implementation, a sport training ball for use underwater includes a resilient spherical body. An internal chamber is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water. A buoyancy reduction device is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water.

One or more of the following features may be included. The quantity of the low density medium may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball. The low density medium may be air. The buoyancy reduction device may be constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water. The high-density material may be rubber. The buoyancy reduction device may be configured to receive a high-density material having a density at least equal to water. The quantity of the high-density material may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball. The high-density material may be water. The resilient spherical body may be constructed, at least in part, of rubber. The resilient spherical body may be constructed, at least in part, of leather. The sport training ball may be a basketball.

In another implementation, a sport training basketball for use underwater includes a resilient spherical body. An internal chamber may be positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water. A buoyancy reduction device may be positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water. The buoyancy reduction device may be constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water.

One or more of the following features may be included. The quantity of the low density medium may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball. The low density medium may be air. The high-density material may be rubber. The resilient spherical body may be constructed, at least in part, of rubber. The resilient spherical body may be constructed, at least in part, of leather.

In another implementation, a sport training basketball for use underwater includes a resilient spherical body constructed, at least in part, of rubber. An internal chamber is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water. A buoyancy reduction device is positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water. The buoyancy reduction device is constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water. The low density medium is air.

One or more of the following features may be included. The quantity of the low density medium may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball. The high-density material may be rubber.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a sport training ball.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown sport training ball 10 for underwater usage. As will be discussed below, sport training ball 10 may be configured to have a reduced buoyancy so that it may be used (e.g., dribbled) underwater. An example of sport training ball 10 may include, but is not limited to, a basketball. Other examples may include but are not limited to pool toys and soccer balls.

Sport training ball 10 may include resilient spherical body 12. Resilient spherical body 12 may be constructed of various components, such as rubber and/or leather. For example, resilient spherical body 12 may include rubber layer 14, which may be covered by leather layer 16. For example, rubber layer 14 may be a molded rubber sphere, wherein leather layer 16 may be a multi-panel layer (e.g., including panels 18, 20), wherein e.g., panels 18, 20 are sewn together to form a spherical leather shell (e.g., leather layer 16). Alternatively, layers 14, 16 may both be constructed of rubber.

Sport training ball 10 may include internal chamber 22, which may be positioned within resilient spherical body 12 and may be configured to receive a low-density medium (e.g., low density medium 24) having a density less than water (e.g., less than 1,000 kilograms/cubic meter). An example of low density medium 24 may include, but is not limited to, air. The quantity of low density medium 24 may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of sport training ball 10. For example, sport training ball 10 may include passage 26 through which low density medium 24 may be added to fill/pressurize internal chamber 22. Accordingly, a bicycle pump (not shown) with a filler pin (not shown) may be used to add air to internal chamber 22.

Sport training ball 10 may also include buoyancy reduction device 28, which may be positioned within resilient spherical body 12 and may be configured to have a density greater than or equal to water (e.g., greater than or equal to 1,000 kilograms/cubic meter). Buoyancy reduction device 28 may be constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water (e.g., rubber). Accordingly, the quantity of rubber used to construct buoyancy reduction device 28 may be varied to adjust the buoyancy of sport training ball 10. Specifically, the spherical thickness of buoyancy reduction device 28 may be increased or decreased to adjust the mass (and therefore the buoyancy) of sport training ball 10.

Additionally/alternatively, buoyancy reduction device 28 may be configured to receive a high-density material (e.g., high-density material 30) having a density at least equal to water. For example, buoyancy reduction device 28 may include a chamber for receiving high-density material 30. An example of hi-density material 30 may include, but is not limited to, water. The quantity of high-density material 30 included within buoyancy reduction device 28 may be adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of sport training ball 10. For example, sport training ball 10 may include passage 32 through which high-density material 30 may be added to fill/pressurize buoyancy reduction device 28. Accordingly, a bicycle pump (not shown) with a filler pin (not shown) may be used to add water to buoyancy reduction device 28.

A number of implementations have been described. Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sport training ball for use underwater comprising: a resilient spherical body; an internal chamber positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water; and a buoyancy reduction device positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water.
 2. The sport training ball of claim 1 wherein the quantity of the low density medium is adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball.
 3. The sport training ball of claim 2 wherein the low density medium is air.
 4. The sport training ball of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy reduction device is constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water.
 5. The sport training ball of claim 4 wherein the high-density material is rubber.
 6. The sport training ball of claim 4 wherein the buoyancy reduction device is configured to receive a high-density material having a density at least equal to water.
 7. The sport training ball of claim 6 wherein the quantity of the high-density material is adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball.
 8. The sport training ball of claim 6 wherein the high-density material is water.
 9. The sport training ball of claim 1 wherein the resilient spherical body is constructed, at least in part, of rubber.
 10. The sport training ball of claim 1 wherein the resilient spherical body is constructed, at least in part, of leather.
 11. The sport training ball of claim 1 wherein the sport training ball is a basketball.
 12. A sport training basketball for use underwater comprising: a resilient spherical body; an internal chamber positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water; and a buoyancy reduction device positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water; wherein the buoyancy reduction device is constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water.
 13. The sport training ball of claim 12 wherein the quantity of the low density medium is adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball.
 14. The sport training ball of claim 13 wherein the low density medium is air.
 15. The sport training ball of claim 12 wherein the high-density material is rubber.
 16. The sport training ball of claim 12 wherein the resilient spherical body is constructed, at least in part, of rubber.
 17. The sport training ball of claim 12 wherein the resilient spherical body is constructed, at least in part, of leather.
 18. A sport training basketball for use underwater comprising: a resilient spherical body constructed, at least in part, of rubber; an internal chamber positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to receive a low-density medium having a density less than water; and a buoyancy reduction device positioned within the resilient spherical body and configured to have a density greater than or equal to water, wherein the buoyancy reduction device is constructed of a high-density material having a density at least equal to water; wherein the low density medium is air.
 19. The sport training ball of claim 18 wherein the quantity of the low density medium is adjustable to control the overall buoyancy of the sport training ball.
 20. The sport training ball of claim 18 wherein the high-density material is rubber. 